Automatic measuring attachment for circular-knitting machines.



J, B. HIPWELL. AUTOMATIC MEASURING ATTACHMENT FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLIATION FILED SEPT.4,19G5.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

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J. B. HIPWELL.

AUTOMATIC MBASURING ATTACHMENT FOR CIRUULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTA, 1906.

Patented Nov. 1'?, 1908 2 SHEETS-slim@ 2` fg/2.17 l?. Hip waff,

WW1/Moz UNITEI) STATES PYFENI (')llltlClil JOHN B. HIPWELL, OF READING: PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TU W'lNDSOlt MMlllNl (it), OF READING, PENNSYLVANA, A CORPORATION (il: PHNNYliVnNln.

AUTOMATIC MEASURING ATTACHMENT FOR CIRCULAB-KNITTING MACHINES.

To all 'whom 'it may concern.:

Be it known that` l, Jeun B. llirwnLn, a i citizen otthe United States, anda resident l of the city of Reading, in the county ot Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented certain nen7 and useful lmprovements in Automatic Measuring Attaclnnents for Circular-Knitting Machines, of: which the followingl is a specification.

My invention relates to circular knitting machines adapted for the alternate rotary l and reciprocating knitting commonly ein* ployed in knitting stockings, and it consists in an improved automatic measuringr attach-- nient adapted to positively measure the, length of the tubular portionsI of a. continu.- ously produced fabric, irrespective of the nun'iber of courses required to produce the same, as fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is a partial front elevation of a knitting machine having my improvements l applied thereto in preferred form. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear view, looking in the direction of the arrow 3, Fig. E2. Fig. 4 is a separate detail view showing,r the drive-pawl held in action pending the release of the same by the pattern chain. Fig. 5 is a plan View of one of the drop weights.

The particular torni oi' circular knitting' machine which is partially indicated in the drawings in connection with my improve ment, is fully described and shown in lat ent No. $17,775, issued to me April 17th, 1906. The rotary cam cylinder 4, mounted in frame 5, is rotated by bevel gear G on the pulleyr shaft 7; rotary or, reciprocating' movement thereof being changeably effected by means of tight and loose pulleys and a clutch on said shaft, and the reeil'irocated racl -bar 8. The pattern chain 1.0, carried on pattern Wheel 1l having a rati-het portion 12, is driven by a pawl 'lrl which is connccted to a pivote'd pawla-.arrying lever l-'l (Fig. 3 arranged to be swung: by said reciprocating rack-bar S. The mechanism thus briefly referred to merely indicates ordinary features of a knit-ting,r machine to which my invention is applicable, such features including also suitable means, operated by properly located projections on the Specification of Letters a'tent.

Application led September 4, 1906.

pattern chain, for effecting the changes in Patented Nov. 17. 1908.

Serial No. 333,064.

libe operation ot' the machine required for alternate rotary knitting :is in the manufacture ot stof-kings.

ln my impl-maid. mechanism provision is made l'or holding'thc pavvl 1? out oi operative cngagenicnt with the pattern ratchet Wheel l2 so as to leave the pattern mechanism at rest during ordinary rotary knitting, and l'or throwingit into operative engagement when the actual desired length of tubular knitting` (leo` or toot or both) has been pro duced. so that the pattern chain may then etlert the required changes for heel and toe knitting. For this purpose I employ, as shown. a pair of drop weights f2() and 21, adjustahly secured. to a dropelraine 225 which is provided at its upper end with hooked tinggeiz,y 22? adapted to he attached by the operator to the depending top-edge of a stocking; (see i"ig. l) the leg portion. The lower drop-Weight 20 adjustably set to suit the length of legr portion required, and theupper drop-vyjeight il is adjuslably spared therefrom to suit the length of foot portion required. These drop- Weig'hts are arrai'ited to slide \ertically upon a `,ly'uidef-iod 25 suitably tixed to a support liti, and are slotted as indicated at l5 Fig. 5 so as to pass the arm 30 of a bellcrank whirh is pivoted to said guiderod at Q8 so that the vertical arm 2t) thereof will norinaiy project into the path of the descending' weights, while the other arni il() is con-l ncltrd to a parallel movable rod 3l, the upper end :2T ol which is connected at 3Q to one end of' a pivoted lever 5?., the other end Ill ot' which lies under the drivepawl lil. The weight ot' this movabley rod 3l is preferably partly countcrbalanccd by a spring il?) so as to facilitate the raising of the saine by the action ot the drop-weights upon the bellrrank; said movable rod however normally falling into lowered position so as to cause the end ill of the pirot'ed lever 33 to hohl the dri \epawl lll out olt engagement. with the pattern rati-het wheel l2 until the movable rod is raised by the descending dropaveight. This occurs alter the required length of tubular leg' portion has been knitted` tlulower drop-weight "30 thon auto math-.ally operationr the bell-crank to raise the movable rod, and thus permitting the constantly reriprocated drive pawl to drop into operating engagement. with the pattern ratchet wheel. This operating engagement preparatory to knitting 'i (i tl must continue until the pattern chain hast tary b l a pattern device, driving means therefor' arelfected, as usual, the required changes in the operation of the machine to roduce the heel portion of the Stocking. .n the preferred construction shown I allow the drop- Wcight 20 to promptly pass the bell-crank arm 29. and provide a latch 10 arranged to hold the lever end 34 in depressed position until said latch is moved at :the proper time by a projection on the pattern chain so as to release said lever end and permit it to raise the pawl out of action. The rotary knitting to form the foot of the stocking then continues until the properly spaced upper drop-weig`rht 2l acts upon the hellcrank to again throw the pawl. into action and thereby bring the pattern chain into service as before for effecting the required changes for the knitting of the toe.

1t will thus be eeen that with my improved attachment desired lengths of the tubular leg and foot port ions of a stocking, or either, may be directly lmd accurately produced automatically, irrespective of the number of courses required therefor, and independently of the pattern device employed to elfect the changes required in the operation of the machine for the making of the heel and toe portions. The preferred mechanism specif ically described and shown may obviously be readily modified' without departing from my invention.

What l claim .iet-

l. ln a` knitting machine having a change mechanism for changing alternately to rotary and reciprocating knittino', a dropwcight measuring device airanged to automatically throw .said change mechanism into operation at desired intervals without intermitting the operation of the machine.

2. In a. knitting machine having a change mechanism for changing alternately to rotary and reciprocating knitting, a measuring device comprising adjnstably-spaced drop-Weights arranged to automatically throw Said change mechanism into operation at determined intervals Without intermitting the operation of the machine.

3. 1n a circular knitting machine, a change lmechanism for changing alternately to ro- "tary and reciprocating knitting, comprising a pattern device, driving means therefoi an ranged to be inoperative for rotary knitting, and a drop-weight arranged to throw said driving means into operation for recipro eating knitting at desired intervals Without interinitting the operation of the machine.

Y4. In a circular knitting machine, a change mechanism for changing alternately to roand reciprocating knitting comprising ranged to be inoperative for rotary knitting, a drop-Weight arranged to throw isaid driving means into operation for reciprocating knitting, and means for throwing the saine out of operation for rotary knitting at desired intervals without intermitting the operation ot' the machine.

5. In a circular' knitting machine, a change mechanism for changing alternately to rov tary and reciprocating knitting comprising a` pattern device, driving means therefor arranged to be inoperative for rotary knitting, spaced-apart dropweighte arranged to successively throw said driving means into operation, and interniediately-operating means for throwing the same out of operation.

(i. ln a knitting machine having a change mechanism for y'changing alternately to ro tary and reciprocating knitting, an automatic measuring mechanism con'iprising a dropaveight attachable to the knitted fabric, a guide-way thereforha pivoted lever arranged in the path thereof, and controlling means between Said lever and change nicchanism whereby the latter is automatically thrown into operation as desired Without intermitting the Aoperation of the machine.

y 7. ln a knitting machine having a change mechanism for changing alternately to rotary and reciprocating knitting comprisin a pattern ratchet Wheel and a continuously operated driving pawl therefor. an' auto matic measuring mechanism comprising a drop-Weight attachable to the knitted fabric, and controlling means for said pawl arranged to be o erated by said drop-weight for throwing t ie same into or out of mesh with said pattern wheel substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. ln a knitting machine having a change mechanism forA changing alternately to rotary and reciprocating knitting comprising a pattern ratchet wheel,'a pattern chain and a continuously operated driving paWl therefor and a latch for said pawl, an automatic measuring mechanism comprisingr spaced drop-weights attachable to the knitted fabric and pawl engaging and disengaging means operated alternately' by said Weights and pattern chain substantially' as set forth.

In testimony whereof, l afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. .Vl-IIPVELL.

Witnesses t D. M. S'ri'iWAiiT, W. G. STEWART. 

